APMA News - June 2013 - (Page 14)

What’s the Deal with Biomechanics? H How One APMA Member Helped Jerry Seinfeld End Years of Pain eel pain is no laughing To Dr. D’Amico, the best matter. Anyone who thing any patient can do is has dealt with chronic share the story of his treatfoot-health issues knows this to be ment and be a testament to true. For one world-famous funny the foot and ankle care proman, finally achieving relief from vided by podiatrists. his decades-long discomfort was When Seinfeld first visitreason enough to do more than ed Dr. D’Amico, he told the simply put a smile on his face. doctor that when he did On Tuesday, April 23, comedian stand-up comedy, at least 20 Jerry Seinfeld visited the New York percent of his attention was College of Podiatric Medicine focused on his feet. Some (NYCPM) to express his gratitude nights it was excruciating, Left to right: Joseph D’Amico, DPM; Jerry Seinfeld; Michael Trepal, to Joseph D’Amico, DPM, for endand while he had gained DPM, dean, NYCPM; and Louis Levine, president, NYCPM. ing his 30-year struggle with heel temporary relief with previpain. Dr. D’Amico, a former chair of the orthopedics departous care, his problem had persisted. “Simplistic solutions to ment at the school and a long-time professor, succeeded complex problems do not, as a rule, offer lasting resolution,” where numerous other medical professionals failed by anasaid Dr. D’Amico. In short order, Dr. D’Amico was able to identify and correct some of the issues. For example, Seinfeld was wearing a “In all his years in treatment, new pair of orthotics. However, those orthotics were molded from a cast taken 18 years ago. “Using a cast that old simply Jerry said no one had ever sought makes no sense and was probably exacerbating his problem,” to figure out the underlying said Dr. D’Amico. problems but simply treated his He knew that to keep Seinfeld pain-free, he would have to go further than previous physicians had been willing to go. symptoms,” said Dr. D’Amico. Prior to casting a new set of inserts, Dr. D’Amico did a full biomechanical exam of Seinfeld’s feet to search for the root lyzing the biomechanical basis of Seinfeld’s discomfort and cause of his issue. The exam included an observational and finding a solution. “In all his years in treatment, Jerry said no computer-assisted gait analysis. He conducted the same analone had ever sought to figure out the underlying problems ysis again several weeks after the orthotics were created to but simply treated his symptoms,” said Dr. D’Amico. confirm their effectiveness. Seinfeld is now relieved to be pain-free. He is so relieved, in “The complete biomechanical examination that I performed fact, he wanted to do more than simply pay his bill and say for Jerry is the same one I have performed over the years on thanks. “I have treated many, many famous patients. This is the each and every one of my patients,” said Dr. D’Amico. “I didn’t first time any of them has asked me, ‘What more can I do to do anything out of the ordinary in evaluation, treatment, and thank you for helping me?’” said Dr. D’Amico. Seinfeld made a approach. I think the more time that is invested with the padonation to the Gait Laboratory for Biomechanical Research at tient, the more thorough the examination, the more questions NYCPM, as well as an additional donation to fully fund the that are answered, the more successful the outcome.” Richard O. Schuster Memorial biomechanics seminar. Seinfeld told his story to a small group of NYCPM admin“Dr. D’Amico is a tremendously valuable professor here and istrators during his visit. He discussed his difficulty in finding has taught generations of podiatrists,” said Michael J. Trepal, relief and the effect his pain had on his work. When reflecting DPM, vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of NYCPM. on his eponymous award-winning sitcom and how he dealt “He has devoted an immense amount of time to gait analysis with his condition, Seinfeld said, “It really was a nine-year and other biomechanical research topics, and goes above and struggle. I have a hard time watching the reruns because I see beyond what is asked of him to give his time and effort to our the shoes on my feet and remember how painful that experistudents. He is a true ambassador for our profession.” ence was.” n 14 APMA News June 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - June 2013

APMA News - June 2013
President’s Message
Table of Contents
The Boston Marathon Bombings: Podiatrists on the Front Line
Committee Nominations Requested
What’s the Deal with Biomechanics? How One APMA Member Helped Jerry Seinfeld End Years of Pain
The New Wave of HIPAA Changes: The Final Omnibus Rule of 2013
APMA State Advocacy Forum
Resolutions Submission Deadlines
Emotional Intelligence and Residency Education
Practice Survey Data: Practice Owner Type
It’s All Happening at The National!
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Forms
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
APMAPAC Chair Report
Coverage Corner
IT Consultant
Inside APMA’s Social Media
Bylaws Propositions Due
Website Wisdom
On the Road with APMA
Small Business 101
CPME Update
Young Physicians’ Accomplishments
Worthy of Note
Affiliates Corner
New Members
Death Notices
APMAPAC Update
Development Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
10 Questions
Your APMA

APMA News - June 2013